A Brief Return to Arizona: Part 4

Monday 02/11/13

Today I seriously challenged myself. My friend Barb, with whom I bunked during this vacation, and I drove to Michelle's house in north Phoenix. Brian, Michelle, Barb and I then went to the climbing "gym" where Brian and Michelle climb a couple of times a week. I really wasn't planning to climb - just watch. However, the kids had different ideas and so up I went.

Brian is explaining the roping system to me.

Brian is on belay and I'm going up . . . 

. . . and up . . . 

The wall is 32' high.  My hands are about 6' from the top. Michelle is above me taking the pic.

Coming down (rappel).

Brian climbing the chimney.

      Brian climbing with Michelle on belay.

     Michelle climbing (I missed the climb but got her rappel) with Brian on belay.

A Brief Return to Arizona: Part 3

Sunday, 02/10/13

The Hieroglyphic Trail, Superstition Mountains

Mark (youngest son), Taylor, Andrew (grands:) with their two dogs, Sargent and Keesha. Brian (oldest son) and Michelle (Brian's girlfriend:) with two of their three dogs, Gracie  and Shadow.  The weather was gorgeous: 55°F for a high with beautiful golden sunshine, clear blue skies and fluffy white clouds.  The day could not have been better.

Andrew

Stream as snowmelt coming off the top and forming a pool.

Taylor

Mark and Keesha with Taylor in beackground

Brian with Mark and Andrew in background

Just a small portion of the hieroglyphics. 

Superstition Mountains

Hieroglyphics

Andrew (orange), Mark (gray)

The grands are taller than grandma with Mark in background as the goof :D

A Brief Return to Arizona: Part 2

Saturday, 02/09/13

Mark took us to the Renaissance Festival today.  The festival is now in its 25th year and has always been held just off Hwy 60 east of Gold Canyon, AZ.

Taylor and Andrew

Taylor and Andrew riding an elephant

Taylor's tail. :D

Taylor looking very cool with her new hair swirly. 

Mark wearing his horns (which he did not buy:)

Andrew relaxing.

After the festival we met up with my oldest son Brian and his girlfriend, Michelle for dinner.

Oldest son, Brian, and his girlfriend, Michelle.

The Grands: Andrew and Taylor

Mark and Cindy

Part 3: Hiking the Hieroglyphic Trail in the Superstition Mountains.

A Brief Return to Arizona: Part 1

My husband, Doug, and I have been living in northern Michigan for almost 2 years and I had not been back to AZ to visit my kids and the grands in all that time. I spent a total of 5 days and had a wonderful time. The weather could not have been much better with clear skies, cool temps and brilliant sun. We hadn't seen much sun all winter in MI and so that golden globe was greatly appreciated. 

On Friday night immediately after my 3 hour late arrival into Sky Harbor I rented a car and drove to my youngest son/family in Chandler. Mark took all of us out for dinner.

Andrew, my 11 year old grandson being goofy. LOL!!! :D

Daughter-in-law, Cindy and my 14 year old granddaughter, Taylor looking lovely.

My youngest son, Mark. Guess where Andrew got his goofiness from?

Part 2 - Renaissance Festival.